Iris-diaphragm.



' (UNITED STATES PATENT *oFFIoE.

.ANRREW WOIJLENSAK, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR 'I'O WOLLENSAK OPTICAL COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW- YORK, A CORPORATION OF "NEW YORK.

IRIS-DIAPHRAGM.

' Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 28, 1911 Application filed October 8, 1910. Serial No. 586,038;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW lVoLLnNsAK,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Iris-Diaswung simultaneously-toward or from the center of the aperture.

In diaphragms of the construction above referred to, as heretofore constructed, each blade is provided at each end with a pivotpin projecting laterally from the surface'of the blade, and these pivot-pins are seated in holes or recesses in the. two relatively-rotatable annular members by which the necessary movements are imparted to the blades. Owing to the overlapping position of the blades, and to the necessity for compactness in devices of this character, it is necessary to use very thin, flexible sheet-material for the blades, and consequently'it is a matter of some difiiculty and expense to secure the pivots to or from them on the blades, and, furthermore, this construct-ion has the disadvantage that the pressure against the pivot-pins in opening and closing the diaphragm is not transmitted in the plane of the blades, so that the pivot-pins have a tendency to twist the blades.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve the iris diaphragm by the elimination from the blades of the pivot-pins, and of the disadvantages resulting from their use, and to this end the invention consists in a diaphragm in which the ends of the blades themselves are employed as elements of the connections between the blades and the annular actuating and-supporting Inembers,'these ends having no lateral projections but being engaged by suitable abutments on the actuating members, said abutments being arranged to engage the blades in the planes of the blades, so

as to have no twisting effect on the blades. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the ends of the blades are seated in suitably-formed recesses in the opposing faces of said members.

The construction of the preferred embodi ment of the invention may be clearly understood by reference to the drawings forming part ofthis application, in which- Figure 1 is a front-elevation of the complete diaphragm, with the blades partly open; Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the annular actuating memberremoved'; Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the annular actuating member, detached from the stationary memher; and Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section on the line AA of Fig. 1, with the blades fully open.

The stationary member of the diaphragm is shown in the form of a circular disk 1, having a concentric recess 2 in its front face. This recess is adapted to receive the rotary actuating member 3, the latter being provided with an overhanging annular flange 4. Buttons or clips 5, 5, that are rotatably supported in the disk 1 (Fig. 4), afi'ord con-. venient means for holding the disk 3 within the recess 2, which the cli s are adapted to do when. turned over the ange 4, as shown in Fig. 1, but when the clips are turned to the position indicated in Fig. 2, the actuat ing member 3 may be lifted free from the supporting member 1, exposing the iris blades 6.

The blades 6 are substantially crescentshaped (Fig. 2), and are all of the same size. One end of each is in the form of a. circular head 7, while at the opposite end 8 there is no projection whatever. The heads 7 rest in holes 9 that are spaced equidistant around the recess 2, and are sufficiently free in the holes 9 to permit the blades to be swung toward or from the center of the disk 1, thus covering or uncovering the aperture 10. The bodyportions of the blades 6 lie within the space formed by a recess 11 in the front of the disk 1, and a similar recess 12 in the back of the actuating disk 3.

A series of circular holes 13 in the disk 3 constitute sockets to receive the plain ends 8 on the blades 6. These holes are so placed as to intersect the periphery of the recess 12, thus forming shoulders 14 that engage the ends 8 when the disk? is rotated, and

so swing the. blades upon the heads 7, which serve as pivots. lever or arm 15 of the usual form, secured to the disk 3, is indicated as a convenient means for actuating it.

I claim 1- 1. An iris diaphragm comprisin two concentric, relatively-rotative annu ar members, oneof said members being provided with circular series of sockets, and a series of overlap )ing blades, each blade being anintegral more of thin, flat, sheet, material without late :11 projections, pivotally connected with said member by having one end seated in one of said sockets, the other rotative member being provided with means for engaging said blades to swing them about their pivots.

3. An iris diaphragm comprising two con centrira relatively-rotative annular members provided with circular series of sockets in their opposing faces. and a series of overlapping blades. each blade being an integral piece of thin, flat, sheet material without lateral projections and having one end seated in a socket in one of said members and its other end seated in a socket in the other of said members. 3. An iris diaphragm comprising two concentric, relativelv-rotatire annular members provided with circular series of shallow, radially-extending sockets in their contiguous faces, and a series of flat overlapping blades, each blade having one end seated in a socket in one of said members and its other end seated in the socket in members.

4. An iris diaphragm comprising an annular member havin on its inner face, a series of sockets, eac socket comprising a narrow neck and a wider port-ion radially outside of the neck, a series of overlap ing flat blades, each having one end in the orm of an enlarged head seated in one of said sockets and rotative therein, whereby said blades are pivotally connected with said member and held against radial movement, and a second annular member concentric with the first annular member and connected therewith, with provision for relative rotation of said members, the second annular member being connected with an end of each bl-wie, so as to swing the blades about their pivotal connections when said members are relatively rotated.

An iris diaphragm comprising a series of overlapping blades, each blade consisting of an integral piece of thin, flat, sheet material Without lateral projections; and two concentric, relatively-rotative annular members provided with abutments engagingthe blades at their ends and in the lanes of the blades so as to swing the blades without twisting action thereon.

C. S. DAVIS, I). Gnnxne.

we other of said 

